Friday was my last day working at the synagogue. That’s a wrap. I will miss my endearingly crazy coworkers, but I’m looking forward to a new job doing what I’m actually trained to do. I’ll be writing and editing full-time and part-time now. So, an official “Take that!” to everyone who ever asked me if I planned to use my English degree to teach.
I’ve always known I wasn’t cut out to be an administrative assistant forever, but until now those jobs have always been the easiest to land, you know? Particularly in the early years when I was sans college degree and when, because of the economy, landing a job of any sort felt kind of like a miracle.
In my last two weeks at the synagogue, I was reminded by the color printer, the folding machine, and a very small child in our preschool program why leaving the clerical world forever was a good choice for me: the color printer is still smudging and creasing every piece of paper that passes through its rollers, the folding machine decided it didn’t like my choice of paper and so I had to fold 500 programs by hand, and the tiny child sent to the office for some Thinking Time™ very nearly made my ears bleed with his screaming tantrums.
I am actually glad for all of these things. They were the gentle reminders I needed.
I made the right decision.
My coworkers were awesome, giving me parting gifts and kind words. They gave me a heart paperweight (pictured) which is just the right kind of kitsch to hang on my new cubicle wall. They also sent me off with a lovely Amazon.com gift card, which I promptly used to buy Bento Boxes like this and this for my lunches. (I’ll be going from 60 minute to 30 minutes lunches, so no more going out to eat at all the time.)
Aside from that, the last two weeks of March were crazy. I spread myself a little thin both in real life and on the web, but it was worth it. Here’s what else I’ve been up to:
- Is Your Procrastination Misdiagnosed? On Procrastinating Writers I talk about the writing process and ask you to ponder whether you are a true procrastinator or just a poser.
- Small Business Mobile Marketing Checklist As a contributor on the Small Business Bonfire blog, I wrote about how small business owners can dive in to mobile marketing through mobile-friendly websites, mobile apps and more. You can bookmark this page to see my other posts as they are published.
- Your Fight: Indianapolis Dress for Success I love the Girly Fight site. I shared one of my favorite fights with readers and I hope you will too. Tell the world what causes are important to you!
I hope you had a great week, too.
Shalom.
I agree that great co-workers are the most painful part of leaving a job, but it sounds like your new gig will be perfect. I love those Bento boxes! And yes, “take that” indeed to the English degree naysayers.
Yes, Mahesh, I think the new job will be good for me, but it is hard to leave people who have become like family.
I hear ya.
“Friday was my last day working at the synagogue.” – Great opening line.
Dude. I thought you disappeared or something.
You are totally going to blow everyone away at your new job with those bento boxes. And of course, with your general awesomeness. Good luck!
Thanks, Natalia!
Best of luck in the new job.
Thanks, Ken!
Bento boxes! I love bento boxes! If I had a job I’d totally have one or two.
Congrats on your new leap. I know you’ll do great! 🙂
I know! They are so cool, and I can’t wait to get the Bento Box cookbook for some new ideas.
Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
I miss you. 🙁 I do hope you’re having a great week off!
I’m worried I won’t be able to find another INFJ at the new place!
Word. Although we tend to clump together.
Way to go! What an exciting step for you and, yeah, in your faces, all you doubters! I wish you the very best of luck and am eagerly looking forward to reading about each pending success.
Yes, leaving nice co-workers sucks. I think I remember something about that, anyway.
And hooray for using your actual degree for relevant work!
Congrats on moving on. On the downside, though, you probably won’t hear the words ‘plotz’ and ‘farmisht’ anymore.